Pipe

by Winter Travers

  I kicked back in the recliner and took a sip of my beer. Alice had marched Nikki into the bathroom over ten minutes ago, and she had yet to surface.

  “Maybe she decided to put her pajamas on. Lord knows I’m comfy as hell. I don’t know why everyone doesn’t wear their pajamas all of the time.” Alice was laid out on the floor with three pillows behind her back, and I couldn’t help but think she looked like roadkill on the floor. I had to wonder how many cows had given their lives in the name of her pajamas. Alice shoved a handful of popcorn in her mouth and looked up at me. “Or, she’s waiting for you to leave.”

  This was also a new development.

  Alice hated me and had no qualms about not hiding it.

  “But you invited us over to watch a movie, Alice. I don’t think it would be nice of me to leave.” And to think I had initially liked Alice.

  “I’m sure Nikki will understand you having to leave. I’m sure you have something better you could be doing right now.” She snickered under her breath and shoved more popcorn into her mouth.

  “Nowhere else I’d rather be right now,” I mumbled. Except I wouldn’t mind being in the bathroom with Nikki at this moment. Once I talked her into getting over whatever the hell was bugging her, I’d like to act out the fantasy I had with her in the shower.

  “You wanna grab me another beer?” Nickel asked.

  “Make Pipe get it,” Karmen muttered. Her eyes were trained on the TV, and she was eating licorice like it was going out of style. She was sprawled out on Nickel’s lap, and he was slowly rubbing her belly.

  “I got it.” I kicked down the footrest on the recliner and strolled into the kitchen.

  Nikki’s fridge was filled with every junk food imaginable, and the bottom was filled with beer. It was a bachelor’s dream.

  “Looking for something?”

  I froze mid-reach and looked over my shoulder.

  Nikki was standing behind me, clothes changed, and her hair flowing down her shoulders.

  She was fucking gorgeous.

  “Uh, I was just getting a beer.”

  She nodded and tugged on the hem of her shirt. “Okay.”

  We both stood there, staring at each other, speechless.

  “Beer,” Nickel called.

  Nikki jumped and nodded at me. “I’ll just, uh, go.” She spun around, bumping into the table, and plopped into the chair I had been sitting in.

  I grabbed two beers, popped the top on them, and handed one to Nickel.

  “Thanks, brother.”

  I sat down in the small space left on the couch next to Karmen and Nickel and felt like a fat man trying to sit in a crib. “You think you two could share the fucking couch?” I bitched.

  Karmen scooted closer to Nickel giving me about three more inches. “Better?”

  Not really, but I wasn’t about to get into it with a pregnant chick. “It’ll do, doll.” I could have laid on the floor by Alice, but I liked the fact I could watch Nikki without her knowing I was looking at her.

  She had her legs tucked under her, and her eyes were trained on the TV. Her back was ramrod straight, and she looked tense as hell.

  She never was like this with me before. All the times we had hung out before, she was carefree, saying and doing whatever she wanted. Don’t even get me started on the night I had finally fallen into bed with her. I’m pretty sure Nickel wouldn’t appreciate me sporting wood next to his woman.

  My beer dangled from my fingertips, and while everyone else watched the movie, I was watching Nikki slowly relax into the chair. She leaned her head back, and a small smile played on her lips.

  Alice had a running commentary about what was happening on the screen, and Nickel would tell her to put a sock in it every five minutes or so.

  By the time the credits rolled, Karmen was fast asleep, my butt was numb, and I watched Nikki more than I did the movie.

  “Should we watch another one?” Alice asked from the floor.

  Nickel shook his head and slowly rolled Karmen off his arm. “I think I’m going to get sleeping beauty back to the hotel. First, I need to get feeling back to my arm though.” He raised his arm over his head and shook his hand.

  Karmen grunted and curled into Nickel. “I’m not moving. You go back to the hotel.”

  Nickel chuckled and ran his fingers through her hair. “I think you’ll be more comfortable in bed, baby girl.”

  “I’m not moving.”

  “You said that already,” Alice laughed.

  “We have a hotel room, Karmen,” Nickel insisted.

  “Then go use it,” she mumbled. “Give me a blanket, and my pregnant ass isn’t moving until morning.”

  Nickel looked at me for help, but I didn’t have a clue what to tell him. Could you really make a pregnant chick do anything she didn’t want to? “Carry her?” Chicks dug being carried, didn’t they?

  “If you even try to move me from this couch, I’m naming our baby Beaufort and moving in with Nikki.” Karmen opened one eye and looked over at me. “Try it, ass.”

  I held up my hands and shook my head. “I have no plans of touching you, darlin’. I’m more than okay with going back to the hotel by myself.”

  “I’m sure you are,” she scowled. “No skanks in my bed, Pipe.”

  What the hell was she talking about? I couldn’t remember the last time I had been with a chick. The only stranger who I had been within the past month was my left hand. Jacking off with your hand that wasn’t dominate mimicked the feel of someone else jerking you off. The things you learn on the ol’ interwebs. Plus, free porn. “How is it your bed if you ain’t sleeping in it?”

  She closed her eye and smiled. “Because Nickel paid for that room, so both of those beds are mine as far as I’m concerned.”

  “Then get your ass up and go lay in both of your beds.” Damn sassy tonight.

  “No, you can have the bed. I’m staying here.”

  I looked up at Nickel. “Your woman is damn looney, brother.”

  “She’s Karmen.”

  Karmen raised her head and leveled her gaze on Nickel. “I’m not sure what you mean by that answer. I’m torn between being offended and kissing you.”

  “Kiss me and don’t think about it.”

  “No, I think I’m going with offended.” She laid her head back down and pointed at the door. “You and Pipe can be bed buddies. I’m staying here with Nikki and Alice. We’re gonna have a slumber party and talk about boys.”

  “Hell yes,” Alice shouted as she shot up from the floor. “Once these two leave, we can make a blanket cave on the couch, bring out more snacks, and watch more Vin.”

  Karmen moved her hand to point at Alice. “What she said. Although, we’re also going to talk about your somewhat unhealthy obsession with Vin. You do know he’s real, but not real, right?”

  Alice tilted her head to the side. “I don’t think I like the way you are talking right now. Next, you are going to tell me book boyfriends aren’t real. And if that’s the truth, I don’t think I want to live in that world.”

  Nickel scooted away from Karmen and moved to the door. “I don’t know what the hell is going on right now. I’m going to the hotel. You coming with me or not, woman?”

  “No. Take Pipe. You two can snuggle. Come back over in the morning for breakfast. Actually, make it brunch. I need my sleep.”

  “Don’t you think maybe you should run this impromptu sleepover by Nikki before you plan it?”

  “She can stay,” Nikki piped up. “I really don’t mind.”

  Nickel growled but knew he was outnumbered and there was no way he was going to be able to talk Karmen into going back to the hotel with him. It was three against one, and I had no plans on joining Nickel’s side because I didn’t want these three against me.

  “I’m not leaving you with the car.”

  Karmen laughed and sat up.

  I stood up and grabbed my empty can from the side table.

  “I just pictured you on the back of Pipe’s
bike.” Karmen cackled and howled, hitting the couch.

  Nickel tossed his arms up in the air. “I’m done with you tonight,” he growled. “I love you, baby girl, but I think Pipe might be right about you being a little looney.”

  Karmen tossed one of the throw pillows at Nickel’s retreating back before he ducked out the front door.

  “I love you too, ass,” she called.

  “I know you love my ass, baby girl.” The door slammed shut behind him, and Karmen turned her glare on me.

  “Behave.”

  Whatever the hell that meant. What did she think Nickel and I were going to do? The only plan I had was to grab one of the cases of beer from the fridge, toss it in Nickel’s car before he left, then drink back at the hotel. “That’s all I do, darlin’.”

  Karmen rolled her eyes and tossed the other throw pillow at me. “You don’t even know the definition of behaving.”

  “Pfft, now that’s the truth,” Nikki mumbled.

  She had barely said a word during the movie, and now the first thing she says is she agrees I don’t know how to behave.

  I grabbed a case of beer from the fridge, gave a two-finger salute to the ladies, and made my way out the door. No matter what I tried to do tonight, I knew it wasn’t going to be enough.

  “Make sure you lock the door,” Nickel called before I slammed it shut.

  I handed him the beer and pulled a cigarette from my pocket. “I’m not sure what the hell that was, but I know me leaving was the best decision.”

  Nickel tossed the beer on the passenger seat and slipped into the driver’s seat. “Damn woman. It’s a good thing I love her sass and she’s carrying my kid.”

  “Pretty sure you love everything about her, brother. Otherwise you wouldn’t put up with any of that shit.”

  “Now that’s the truth,” Nickel mumbled. “I’m gonna head to the hotel. You coming back right away?”

  I lit the end of my cigarette and inhaled deeply. “I’ll be right behind you,” I exhaled.

  Nickel cranked up the car, backed out of the driveway, and headed down the road.

  I leaned against my bike, looking up at Nikki’s duplex.

  It was pretty nice.

  Nicer than any place I had lived before.

  Hell, more than half of my life I had lived in one of the rooms at the club.

  I spotted a “for rent” sign on the other half of the duplex, and an idea formed in my head faster than I could finish my cigarette.

  I still had no idea what the hell was going on with Nikki and me, but I was damn determined to figure it out.

  Tomorrow was going to be the first day of my harebrained scheme and it was hopefully going to settle whatever the hell was going on with us.

  At least, that was what I hoped was going to happen.

  *

  Chapter 7

  Nikki

  “I thought you were tired?”

  Karmen glanced over her shoulder at me and opened the fridge. “I was. Then I took a nap. Now I’m good to go for at least another hour.”

  “You’re going to give Nickel gray hair.” I grabbed the remote from the end table and put on the local news.

  “Hey, I thought we were going to watch another movie,” Alice protested. She had a bag of chips sitting next to her and a container of dip in her hand. After the guys left, Alice raided the fridge and had taken claim of half of the couch.

  “I can’t do it, Alice. I can’t watch those damn movies anymore. I’m starting to go crazy and have dreams of Vin taking me away in his fast car.”

  Karmen closed the fridge and pointed her bottle of water at Alice. “You know, there’s something not right in your head with all this Vin talk.” Hell, leave it to Karmen to get right to the point. “Like, honey, you had two living, breathing hunks of men with you tonight, and you only had eyes for a guy on the TV you will never meet.”

  Alice rolled her eyes and loaded a chip up with dip. “Those two guys are very much taken by you guys. I’m not going to drool over them when they have zero interest in me.”

  Karmen cracked open her water and shook her head. “So, Vin is a much better option for you?” She took a sip then slammed her bottle down on the counter. “We should go back to the bar. We can find you a guy.”

  Alice cackled uncontrollably, and I couldn’t help but smile at Karmen. She really had no clue.

  When Alice had first told me the dating pool was nonexistent in Kales Corners, I hadn’t believed her. After spending a week in town, I fully understood what she meant.

  If you weren’t hooked up and dating someone by freshman year, you were the odd man out. Well, there were people still single, but Alice had no interest in them. I had first thought she was just picky, but after meeting the four men in Kales that were available, I had to agree with her, they weren’t the right guy.

  “You know when we went to the bar, and Nikki and I were the only ones there when you guys walked in?” Karmen nodded her head. “Well, I can guarantee you The Bar is now closed because there is no way in hell they were going to keep the lights on for no one but the bartender.”

  Karmen rolled her eyes and grabbed the half-eaten bag of licorice off the counter. “I don’t believe you.”

  I had sounded just like Karmen a month ago.

  Alice grinned and pulled her phone out of her pocket. She swiped left and right a couple of times then held her phone out to Karmen. “They’re closed. They posted on their Facebook page.”

  Karmen grabbed the phone from her hand. “Well, I’m a monkey's uncle. You’re right.” Karmen flipped the phone around so I could see.

  I nodded and turned back to the TV. “I believed her. Even though that was my first visit to The Bar, I know there aren’t enough people in this town to keep it open.”

  Karmen handed the phone back to Alice and plopped down on the couch next to her. “Sorry. I totally get this is a small town, but I figured with it being a small town everyone would be at The Bar drinking because there wasn’t anything else to do.”

  “There normally are about four guys who shut the bar down every night, but Alice’s mom made lasagna or some bullshit, so they all left.”

  Karmen popped a chip into her mouth and crunched down on it. “Well, since there isn’t anywhere else to go, and all the movies you have you guys watched fifty times, I guess the only thing left to do is talk about Nikki and Pipe.”

  Alice high-fived Karmen. “Best idea I have heard all night,” she sang. She rubbed her hands together and dug another chip out of the bag. “I feel that there is more than what she told us before.”

  Karmen scoffed. “Please, I doubt she even scraped the surface on all the sexual tension between them.”

  I sat down in the recliner and kicked my feet up. “There isn’t anything else to tell. We had flirted, had sex, flirted some more, and then it was over.”

  “You see, the way I look at it, if all he wanted was sex, then why did he flirt with you after you guys had sex? That don’t make sense,” Karmen insisted.

  I looked over and shook my head. “It makes sense because he is a man, and they don’t make sense.”

  Alice stopped mid-chew and tilted her head. “I don’t know if what either of you just said makes sense.”

  It made sense. At least what I said. I knew the score when I had hooked up with Pipe, but like every dumb woman who sets their sights on an unattainable man, they think they can change them. I was the latest dumb woman in a long line. “It makes sense, because Pipe got exactly what he wanted from me, and then he was on to the next woman.”

  “I don’t think that’s entirely true. I think you confused the hell out of Pipe, and he had no clue what to do, so he just did what he always used to do.”

  “Be a man,” Alice and I sang out in unison.

  Karmen sat back and rubbed her belly. “I still don’t entirely understand why you ran away, though. I know you always talked about leaving Weston, but girl, you just left like a thief in the night. You were there, an
d then you were gone.” Her tone was sad and hurt, and I was the reason for that.

  I sighed and closed my eyes. “I’m sorry I took off so quickly. I just needed to get gone.”

  “But why couldn’t you have talked to me? I would have understood.”

  “You would have understood that a man I had no connection to other than one night and some flirting with hurt me to the point where I didn’t even want to be in the same town as him?” I squeezed my eyes shut tight, fighting off the tears that were threatening to fall.

  “Oh hell, Nikki. Don’t make me cry. Nickel says I’m a blubbering mess, and I’m starting to believe him. This baby has me all out of whack.” I heard Karmen sniffle, and I cracked open one eye to see her wipe her nose with the back of her hand. “You should have talked to me, woman. We would have figured out how to get Pipe together.”

  “That’s the thing, Kar, I didn’t want to have to convince him to be with me. You can’t force someone to feel the same way you do. He didn’t want me again, so he found something he did want. Too bad for me, I wasn’t what he wanted.” I hated having to say that out loud. Pipe had cut me deep. The way I felt when I was even in the same room with him was something had never experienced before. After Pipe and I had slept together, everything changed for me. I had never felt a pull to a man like I did with Pipe. For a bit, I thought he had felt the same way. We flirted, brushed up against each other to feel each other again, and I thought I saw a promise of something more whenever he looked at me.

  I guess I read everything wrong, because by the time I worked up enough courage to go to him, he had moved on, and was left with a broken heart and felt like a complete fool. Who reads a man that wrong? In my head we were basically married, and in his, I was just another notch on his bedpost.

  Fool.

  “Pipe is such an idiot,” Karmen sobbed.

  Alice had a look of terror on her face as she watched Karmen grab a handful of chips and shove them into her mouth while she sobbed.

  “Did Pipe break up with you or Nikki?” she asked.